`Trick' puts on show at Laurel

Long shot pays off

Horse racing

October 02, 2005|By FROM STAFF REPORTS

Distinctive Trick and jockey Jozbin Santana, racing in last place down the backstretch, waited for a spot to open along the rail and then blew past the field and drew off to an easy victory in yesterday's feature at Laurel Park, the $85,000 Sonny Hine Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The dark bay son of Distinctive Pro was the longest shot on the board and paid $38.60. He won by seven lengths over Favalora, another long shot who led the field into the stretch before being overwhelmed by the winner. Salary Cap mounted a late rally, but could get no closer than third.

The exacta paid $184.20 and the trifecta $506.20.

Santana picked up the mount yesterday morning. Owner-trainer Uriah St. Lewis sent Distinctive Trick to Laurel from Philadelphia Park, opting to start the colt in this race rather than in the Gallant Bob Stakes at home.

Santana said: "I didn't have a ride in the stake. When I walked in after the third race, the clerk of scales asked me if I wanted to ride this horse. I looked up and I saw that I had ridden the horse before. He's really been running with tough horses.

"He really did it on his own. Everybody was gunning for the lead. I just sat on him. When I tapped him, I figured he was going to be tough to beat because it looked like everybody was stopping in front of me. He came through there."

Morning line favorite Joey Carson and Pavo were scratched from the Sonny Hine and ran 1-2 in the $100,000 Gallant Bob.